Kimball to take oath as 1st female chief justice
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NEW ORLEANS — Justice Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball, who in 1992 became the first woman elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court, will make history again Monday — as the first female chief justice in the 195-year history of the state’s highest court.
Kimball, 63, a Democrat from Ventress who recently won re-election to the 5th District Supreme Court seat, will be sworn in on the front steps of the courthouse, 400 Royal St., in the heart of the French Quarter.
The street in front of the courthouse will be closed to vehicular traffic from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., court spokeswoman Valerie Willard said.
Dignitaries scheduled to attend include: U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, retired Chief Judge Judith Kaye of the New York State Court of Appeal, and Jimmy Faircloth, the executive counsel to Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The ceremonies begin with a 9 a.m. Mass led by New Orleans Archbishop Alfred Hughes and the Rev. Miles Walsh of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The swearing-in follows at 11 a.m.
The Mass and induction ceremony are open to the public. A reception follows in the Conti Street courtyard of the courthouse.
Based on seniority, Kimball replaces Chief Justice Pascal Calogero, who retired Dec. 31 after 36 years on the court.
The projected costs of printing invitations and postage will be donated to the Baton Rouge Battered Women’s Shelter, reflecting Kimball’s career-long interest as an advocate for women and children. Her 5th Supreme Court district includes the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, East Feliciana and West Feliciana.
Kimball is formerly of New Roads.
During her 1993 swearing-in as the state’s first female justice, Kimball said she felt she had become a “symbolic voice” on the court for women and children.
Kimball is expected to lead an increasingly conservative court which includes six other justices. Three are women, including one who is black, and there are four men.
A 1970 graduate of the LSU law center, Kimball also served as the state judge for the 18th Judicial District of Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee from 1982 to 1993, spending the last three years as the chief judge.
Kimball, 63, a Democrat from Ventress who recently won re-election to the 5th District Supreme Court seat, will be sworn in on the front steps of the courthouse, 400 Royal St., in the heart of the French Quarter.
The street in front of the courthouse will be closed to vehicular traffic from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., court spokeswoman Valerie Willard said.
Dignitaries scheduled to attend include: U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, retired Chief Judge Judith Kaye of the New York State Court of Appeal, and Jimmy Faircloth, the executive counsel to Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The ceremonies begin with a 9 a.m. Mass led by New Orleans Archbishop Alfred Hughes and the Rev. Miles Walsh of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The swearing-in follows at 11 a.m.
The Mass and induction ceremony are open to the public. A reception follows in the Conti Street courtyard of the courthouse.
Based on seniority, Kimball replaces Chief Justice Pascal Calogero, who retired Dec. 31 after 36 years on the court.
The projected costs of printing invitations and postage will be donated to the Baton Rouge Battered Women’s Shelter, reflecting Kimball’s career-long interest as an advocate for women and children. Her 5th Supreme Court district includes the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, East Feliciana and West Feliciana.
Kimball is formerly of New Roads.
During her 1993 swearing-in as the state’s first female justice, Kimball said she felt she had become a “symbolic voice” on the court for women and children.
Kimball is expected to lead an increasingly conservative court which includes six other justices. Three are women, including one who is black, and there are four men.
A 1970 graduate of the LSU law center, Kimball also served as the state judge for the 18th Judicial District of Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee from 1982 to 1993, spending the last three years as the chief judge.
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